You go to any college or university library, and you will find about 95% of students reading with their favourite music playing on headphones. Many students prefer listening to music while carrying out a task, whether studying for an exam or writing assignments. But, if you think about it, having two things in mind to concentrate more on doesn’t make much sense. Does it? But when students were tested in environments with background music were found to yield better results than the ones tested against background noise. Research has also proven that constant-in-state and not-so-loud music is better for concentration.
The Ultimate Theory Connecting Music and Studies: The Mozart Effect
The Mozart Effect is the most popular theory that connects music with cognitive performance. The research was initially conducted to establish a connection between Mozart and spatial, temporal reasoning. It was conducted by Dr Gordon Shaw and was dubbed the Mozart Effect. According to this theory, listening to classical music makes people, especially children, smarter.
Dr Gordon Shaw, along with his graduate student Xiodan Leng developed a model of the brain. They then used musical notes to represent brain activity among college students. He noticed a sharp increase in IQ levels among college students by nine points after they listened to “Sonata for Two Pianos in D Major” by Mozart.
Later, there were mixed feelings about the Mozart Effect. Read this article to understand the mixed picture involved in the Mozart Effect.
Three Crucial Ways Music Helps You Concentrate While Studying
Whether you are finalising your essay or cramming some last-minute reading, good music always makes things easier. Here’s how music helps you concentrate while studying:
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Helps you memorise new information
According to a study, listening to classical music help, adults perform better on memory and processing tasks. The findings suggest there are certain types of music that can boost memorisation abilities and other cognitive functions. Just like exercise stimulates your body, good music too stimulates your brain.
Tram Nguyen is a scientist on the Cambridge Brain Sciences Team. He recently published an article in “Psychomusicology: Music, Mind and Brain.” In the article, he examined the effects of background music on memory. He used specific genres of music to alter the listener’s mood and emotional state (positive or negative.)
However, research suggests that recalling information is more effective when you do it in a similar environment where you have memorised it. Thus, if you have studied for the Biology exam while playing Riptide by Vance Joy in the background, play the same track while recalling the details.
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Increases your concentration levels
As per a study from the Stanford University School of Medicine, classical music plays an integral role in absorbing and interpreting information more efficiently. The brain separates abundant information into smaller manageable segments to process each piece of information accurately.
Writing IT assignments, for instance, require you to study a wide gamut of complicated topics. You may find it hard to make sense of or sort through heaps of information at once. However, listening to music while writing your IT assignment can help you focus on each piece of information without overlapping the details. This also hones your reasoning abilities, thereby allowing you to reason your way to your exam answers based on the information you have.
According to a Stanford study, music trains the brain to pay attention. . The initial purpose of the study was to recognise how the brain sorts out events. But, eventually, the researchers revealed that the music (Mozart and Beethoven) used by composers 200 years ago helped the brain sort out or categorised information.
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Motivates you
At times, all you need is a little motivation to become a great student from a good one. And losing motivation isn’t a new thing in college. It is, after all, challenging to stay motivated to keep studying e next day when you have grappled with your exhausting homework throughout last night. The insurmountable academic pressure often leaves you with little or no motivation to study or even write assignments.
Self-rewarding is one of the best ways to deal with this lack of motivation.. You can perhaps watch the latest episode of the show you like to just take a walk around the park. According to research from 2019, music activates the same reward centres in your brain. When you listen to music, your brain thinks you are rewarding yourself with your favourite music, thereby providing you with the motivation you need to learn new things.
Wrapping Up,
When you need help with instant assignments or motivation to study a particular chapter, the right type of music has your back. All you have to do is recognise the music genre that helps you focus. Stick to that genre whenever you have to study or complete a paper.
Author Bio:
Patrick Bate is a computer programmer at a reputed firm in the United Kingdom. She also provides IT assignment help at MyAssignmenthelp.co.uk Julie loves to read in her free time.
